How does one realize that he is gay or she is lesbian? What is the meaning of homosexuality in different cultures? Does it exist in other animal species? If homosexuality was still deemed a sickness in the 19th century, today it is considered a variant of development and has become an increasingly visible condition in modern society. Lesbians and gays now usually live in a less hostile environment than in the past, even though they may have to endure subtler forms of prejudice and discrimination; they form couples and families and "out" themselves in the workplace. This book describes the many facets of homosexuality in today's world and highlights the analogies and differences in gays' and lesbians' behaviour in the community.

Luca Pietrantoni teaches Social and Community Psychology at the University of Bologna.

Gabriele Prati teaches Social Psychology and Legal Psychology at the University of Bologna.